About the Position

NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) is seeking Technical MEL Specialists for the USAID-funded Ethiopia Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning – Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (MEL-CLA) Platform. The MEL-CLA project team will assist USAID/Ethiopia and its partners in generating empirical data on project implementation and fostering learning and knowledge management to improve evidence-based project design and development programming in support of the Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS). Founded in 1941, NORC is an established social research organization pursuing high-quality social science research that serves the public interest. 

This is a full-time position with NORC at competitive rates for a 5 year period, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and local travel will be required. Please note that the position is contingent upon award and funding. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities:  

• Working closely with the Senior MEL Specialist to implement, plan, and sequence the MEL activities under his/her technical direction set out in the Annual Work Plan.
• Designing or co-creating with the USAID Mission evaluation/assessment methodologies, detailed SOWs, data collection tools, performance monitoring plans, etc.
• Assisting in recruiting for evaluations and assessments and providing administrative and logistic support for evaluation teams.
• Providing MEL strategy, feedback, and technical assistance to evaluation project teams, including potential technical reviews of draft evaluation reports, evaluation methodology, data collection tools, and other deliverables. 
• Contributing to the production of reports, MEL trainings and webinars, and other deliverables, and analyzing and summarizing performance monitoring data.
• Assisting with data analysis and presentation of data findings, especially from evaluation reports and assessments.
• Supporting the planning, budgeting, and logistics for MEL activities (evaluations, assessment, performance monitoring, and data management and use) and capacity building trainings.
• Supporting the review of USAID/Ethiopia implementing partner Activity MEL Plans.
• In collaboration with USAID/Ethiopia, identifying training needs for evaluation and program monitoring within the mission and amongst local implementing partners.
• Assisting with strengthening the MEL capacity of local implementing partners, professionals, and organizations through coaching, mentoring, webinars, etc.
• Providing training on the online reporting system, project monitoring system, and project indicators.

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international development, economics, statistics, research methods, political science, public policy, social science, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant MEL experience, including data analysis and assessment, designing evaluation/assessment methodologies and SOWs, indicator development, and utilizing data quality verification techniques for large development projects.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant technical experience in either economic growth and development, democracy and governance, or health/water and sanitation.
• Proven experience conducting trainings and capacity development activities, as well as facilitating learning events.
• Previous experience working with USAID and familiarity with their policies related to evaluation, performance management, and collaborating, learning, and adapting.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and native Amharic.
• Outstanding interpersonal and management abilities.
• Demonstrated experience conducting primary data collection.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in mixed method data collection and instrument development.
• PhD in social science, economics, political science, public policy or a related field.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should email a CV and cover letter to ethiopia-mel-cla@norc.org

Please use the following subject line in your email: “Ethiopia MEL-CLA Application – Last Name, First Name.”

Please also contact us at this email with any questions or clarifications. To submit a question please use the subject line: “Ethiopia MEL-CLA-Questions.” Questions without this subject line will not be reviewed.

 **Note: Applications without the proper subject line or a cover letter will not be considered**